The Gungahlin Community Council welcomes the announcement today by the Chief Minister, and the Minister for Transport, John Stanhope of the completion by Christmas of GDE duplication at the Caswell and Aranda on-ramp and City off-ramp.

Upgrading the GDE to four lanes is long overdue and this first-stage upgrade is only a small step to delivering a reliable arterial road system capable of servicing the growing Gungahlin area. The full duplication of GDE will be a significant step towards remedying the current traffic situation affecting Gungahlin residents and businesses.

However, GCC considers that the Chief Minister should accelerate the full duplication, with completion targets brought forward from the announced 2012 deadline. Bringing forward this vital work would be entirely in keeping with the Prime Minister’s Federal infrastructure stimulus package.

The ACT Government should also consider bringing forward a number of other key roadworks projects servicing Gungahlin residents who are forced into a daily commute due to the lack of local employment.

GCC considers that apart from the full duplication of the GDE, the Government should consider bringing forward:

• Duplication of all sections of Flemington Road not already planned for construction
• Construction of the Majura Parkway
• Duplication of Gundaroo and William Slim Drives
• Upgrading of the very dangerous Barton Highway and Gundaroo Drive roundabout.

Improvements to the road infrastructure surrounding Gungahlin would help to open up opportunities for commercial and retail investment in the Gungahlin area, with the additional benefit of improving land sale values in the Gungahlin district.